QuoteReplyTopic: Snowboarding 101 - How To "S" On Your First Day Posted: Jan/22/2013 at 11:27am

Hey Y'all! I just wanted to share with you my instructional videos for first time snowboarders. Hope you guys find them helpful!

Snowboarding 101 - How To "S" On Your First Day

Target Audience: First Time / Beginner Snowboarders

Part 1: Getting Familiar With Your Snowboard

Part 2: "J"-Turns & Getting Off The Ski Lift

Part 3: Braking & Leafing Heelside

Part 4: Braking & Leafing Toeside

Part 5: "C"-Turns & Linking To "S"-Turns

UPDATE: A lot of people on their first day lack the confidence, balance, and overall feel for the snow and slope to be able to execute smooth turns. It's even more difficult with bumpy uneven terrain and sometimes conditions just aren't ideal. Add that to having a bunch of other skiers and riders around you (many being beginners trying to do the same thing) makes for a pretty scary and intimidating environment. I found that teaching this method (skidded/rudder turns) builds confidence and comfort sooner. I would rather people be able to use both edges in succession earlier and then fine tune their technique afterwards than to try to get everything smooth the first time around and fall and get discouraged.

Speed tends to scare beginners the most and being able to kick out the back foot makes for quick braking and, overall, a more dynamic and agile sense of composure. It's also easy to transition to more proper and smooth turning techniques once confidence has been built.

NOTE: My goal with these videos is not to get first time riders to "carve" on their first day, but to build their confidence with utilizing both edges in succession to get down the hill (break them away from relying on leafing down the hill). The focus is to NOT fall. Developing back foot maneuverability also allows for quicker reactions to avoid obstacles and collisions. A proper carve is definitely going to take much longer to learn than one day, especially because it does require more speed and advanced control.

way to be a creator. i like them. i will use some of the terminology when im teaching other people. my girlfriends sister is wanting to learn so im going be having some boring days coming up here soon but i think some of these will help her learn faster.

a lot of that seemed like good info for beginners.. however, truly no disrespect and props for putting together the videos man, but the way you explain how turning works is completely backwards. you do carve starting with the front, and using your back leg as a "rudder" is exactly what you don't do - that's not turning, that's washing back and forth from edge to edge in skidded turns, scrubbing speed as you go. a carve runs along the whole length of the edge from nose to tail, and at no point should you be sliding sideways on your edge, but rather running down the length of the sidecut, which is what carries you through the arc of each turn. turns are initiated/started at the front contact point even though it doesn't necessarily feel like you're "steering" with the front.

I suppose it's somehow possible I totally missed something or misinterpreted, but I watched that part a few times to make sure I heard correctly and understood. you can also see in the clip toward the end that your turns are skidded, because of the way you're moving your back leg like a rudder and sliding, instead of transitioning between edges as you ride the sidecut through each carve. I'd just be concerned this is going to start people off on the wrong foot with learning and understanding how to carve properly, I guess. and again, I really mean no disrespect at all, I just wanted to note that as it's pretty important.

a lot of that seemed like good info for beginners.. however, truly no disrespect and props for putting together the videos man, but the way you explain how turning works is completely backwards. you do carve starting with the front, and using your back leg as a "rudder" is exactly what you don't do - that's not turning, that's washing back and forth from edge to edge in skidded turns, scrubbing speed as you go. a carve runs along the whole length of the edge from nose to tail, and at no point should you be sliding sideways on your edge, but rather running down the length of the sidecut, which is what carries you through the arc of each turn. turns are initiated/started at the front contact point even though it doesn't necessarily feel like you're "steering" with the front.

I suppose it's somehow possible I totally missed something or misinterpreted, but I watched that part a few times to make sure I heard correctly and understood. you can also see in the clip toward the end that your turns are skidded, because of the way you're moving your back leg like a rudder and sliding, instead of transitioning between edges as you ride the sidecut through each carve. I'd just be concerned this is going to start people off on the wrong foot with learning and understanding how to carve properly, I guess. and again, I really mean no disrespect at all, I just wanted to note that as it's pretty important.

Hey spenser, thanks for this and I really appreciate your feedback. I actually had footage of my saying that what this teaches them is not actually carving but I edited that part out due to poor choice of wording on my part. However, I actually don't mention at any point that this is proper carving, or carving at all for that matter.

My goal with these videos is not to get first time riders to carve on their first day, but to build their confidence with utilizing both edges in succession to get down the hill (break them away from relying on leafing down the hill). A proper carve is definitely going to take much longer to learn than one day, especially because it does require more speed and advanced control.

Believe me, if I had intended for beginners to learn to carve by the end of their first day on the slopes, I would not have posted that final clip of my bombing that run. Although I did make an attempt to have clean and quick transitions from edge to edge with minimal washing, I do attribute the skidding to the icy conditions.

I hope this will ease some of your worries as I am not looking to mislead new riders into poor technique. Would you suggest I add some sort of disclaimer or NOTE in the youtube description for the Part 4 video to explain this?

For those who would like to progress into proper carving, I would suggest these videos:

Thanks! I know, I wish someone told me these things on my first day too. It took me a few days before I was able to transition from edge to edge. But, I've actually tried and tested this method on my friends, and they were able to S on their first days! Not carve, but wash/plow edge to edge.

Nice, so YTD worked out for you? I actually started to upload them on vimeo with the download feature enabled, but I have to wait till Tuesday to upload Part 4... not enough in my weekly limit to fit them all. But I'm glad you were able to get them regardless. I really hope he finds them helpful and maybe it'll get him all hyped up during the car ride.

He didn't really cut me off, but I think it was really stupid for him to pass me so closely. It's not like he had limited options or anything, maybe he was just being a douche or trying to get in the video.

great vids. the hardest part I have with my kids is once they master toe and/or heel they dont want to work on linking turns, they just want to ride. Encouraging an 8 yr old to get off the blues and back on bunny isn't so easy!

great vids. the hardest part I have with my kids is once they master toe and/or heel they dont want to work on linking turns, they just want to ride. Encouraging an 8 yr old to get off the blues and back on bunny isn't so easy!

That does sound tough, hmmm, I'm not sure how you would entice them... maybe convince them just how much more fun it is when they ride like Dad?

so the rudder explanation really did it for the 11 yr old. we talked about it at home and he tried it on his own on the mountain. A total game changer for him. he is confidant and charges everything (and can actually land things)

My 8 yr old didn't quite get it but I think big bro getting it is what will do it for her. she is competitive and very tenacious! she can't handle not keeping up despite the age diff

so the rudder explanation really did it for the 11 yr old. we talked about it at home and he tried it on his own on the mountain. A total game changer for him. he is confidant and charges everything (and can actually land things)

My 8 yr old didn't quite get it but I think big bro getting it is what will do it for her. she is competitive and very tenacious! she can't handle not keeping up despite the age diff

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